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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for critical Minnesota battle

By Connor Muldowney

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 27: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball over Grady Eifert #24 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 27, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 27: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball over Grady Eifert #24 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 27, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 21: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the second half at Breslin Center on December 21, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 21: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the second half at Breslin Center on December 21, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Nick Ward snaps out of slump with double-double

Nick Ward is facing one of his toughest tests of the season. Minnesota has a couple of towering bigs who can make life miserable on opponents in Jordan Murphy and Daniel Oturu. He’s coming off the worst 4-5 game stretch of his career and he’s going to need some type of inspired performance to get back on track for the remainder of the season.

It’s hard to see this kid struggle so much because he’s easy to root for and everything that he’s gone through — especially last season — has made him a stronger player.

But this slump seems different.

The Spartans need him to show some type of life after he looked completely out of sorts against Indiana and Illinois. He looked tired, confused and just no himself, but a lot of that has to do with effort, and he admitted that following Thursday’s practice.

Ward is going to snap out of this cold spell on Saturday afternoon with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance that will inspire confidence with his teammates and they’ll feed off that increased energy and effort. We are going to see him play angry and fight for his spot back in the starting lineup for good.

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